Rubidium

About Rubidium (Rb)

Symbol: Rb Atomic number: 37 Atomic weight: 85.4678 Element category: alkali metal Rubidium is a soft, silvery-white metallic element, and one of the most electropositive and alkaline elements. It ignites spontaneously in air and reacts violently with water.Rubidium and rubidium compounds have few commercial uses. It is used in vacuum tubes as a getter to remove trace gases. It is also used in the manufacture of photocells and in special glasses.

Rubidium is little used outside research. It has been used as a component of photocells, to remove traces of oxygen from vacuum tubes and to make special types of glass.

It is easily ionised so was considered for use in ion engines, but was found to be less effective than caesium. It has also been proposed for use as a working fluid for vapour turbines and in thermoelectric generators.

Rubidium nitrate is sometimes used in fireworks to give them a purple colour.